Nigeria: Rape Trial - Ex-Corps Member Was My Girlfriend - Monarch

Oba Adebukola Alli at an Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo yesterday gave a vivid account of how he made love with a 23-year-old former member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) (names withheld) who served in his domain.

Opening his defence before Justice Oyejide Falola in a rape case involving him and the ex-corps member, the traditional ruler insisted that the lady was his lover and they engaged in sexual intercourse willingly whenever they desired it.

The traditional ruler of Ilowa-Ijesa in Obokun local government area of Osun State, who has been standing trial for alleged rape, has denied vehemently that he never forced the lady to bed, adding that the intercourse that was being referred to was not their first time of making love and that they always enjoyed the act.

The monarch, who was slammed with a count charge of having carnal knowledge of the ex-corps member that served in his domain in 2011, also told the presiding judge that the victim was his lover and that they usually had sexual intercourse both in his palace and his private residence in Osogbo where the incident allegedly took place.

He said: "The lady is my lover, I did not rape her; and that was not our first time of having sexual intercourse. She is my wife but I was surprised when I got to the police station over the allegation. She slept with me from 25th to 26th March, 2011 and I got to know that she had reported me to the police on Monday, 28th March, 2011.

"I met the ex-corper during the induction course going on in Ibokun. On the day in question, 25th March, 2011, both of us left Ilowa to Osogbo, we branched at Osun groove in order to replicate the groove at Ilowa historical site. After we left Osun Groove, we drove down to my private residence where we spent the night and when it was 10:30 to 11pm, she removed her jacket and she told me to help her loosen her underwear from her back, which I did and I discovered that she was not wearing any bra. She then took off her skirt and pants and we started making love. After making love that night without struggle, I drove her back the next day to Ilowa.

"But I was surprised on Monday, 28th March, when I was invited to the police station over the allegation of raping her. She is my regular visitor to Ilowa palace and my private house in Osogbo. Even many people including my brothers and other Obas knew about our relationship. "

Alli, who was led in witness by his counsel, Taofeek Tewogbade, stunned the court when he revealed that the police demanded the sum of N400, 000 in order to dissuade the victim from continuing the case, adding that the victim's pastor also demanded a sum of N1million on her behalf so that the complainant could drop the charge instituted against him.

According to the traditional ruler, the allegation has really damaged his health because ever since the case was brought to court, he has been having serious medical trauma. The defendant noted that the paramount ruler of Ijeshaland, Owa-Obokun of Ijeshaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran III may have played some roles in the rape allegation owing to the tussle between the latter and his late father.

Also led in witness were the son of Alli, Seun; an aide to the monarch, Mr. Ganiyu Babalola; and the monarch's cook, Esther Patrick. They all maintained that the victim was Alli's lover, adding that she often visited the monarch.

During cross examinations by the director of public prosecution (DPP) from the state Ministry of Justice, Mr. Dapo Adeniji, the witnesses except the accused monarch said that they did not make any statement to the police as the judge adjourned the case till April 15, 2013, for adoption of addresses.

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